Chapter 52
Chapter
Fifty-Two
ZANDER
“Are you nervous?” I asked Reid as we prepared to visit my parents’ place for a family meal. After this, we’d attend a clan meeting at which our newest members would be introduced.
Technically, there was no reason for Reid to worry, but my family could be overwhelming and we hadn’t all been together under one roof since we’d mated a few days earlier.
Besides, I knew my little warlock tended to stress about everything.
“A little.” He bit his lip. “I know that’s stupid.”
“It’s not.” I caught his hand and drew him to me. He’d just donned a beanie and with it low over his eyes, his blond curls peeking out from beneath, my heart clenched from how adorable he was. “Want me to take the edge off?”
He frowned. “How?”
Smirking, I sank to my knees in front of him.
“Oh.” His eyes widened. “Yes, erm, okay.”
I grinned. I couldn’t help it. He was just so damn cute.
And now, he was mine.
I undid his jeans and pulled them down. His underwear too. I took his cock into my mouth in one smooth, slow motion and grabbed his ass, urging him to rock into me.
His salty taste filled my mouth and the scent of his slick went straight to my groin, plumping my dick.
I groaned around him. He was the perfect mouthful.
Unfortunately, as much as I’d love to draw this out, we needed to leave soon, so I focused on setting a quick rhythm designed to bring him off quickly.
He clutched at my head—although I could tell he was being careful not to hurt me—and gave shallow thrusts, tunneling into my throat.
I sucked harder and he whimpered and rolled his hips, whining about how empty he was. I’d love to fill him up, but that would have to wait for later.
A few minutes later, he came undone, shuddering and gasping for breath as he unloaded onto my tongue. I sucked him through it, nice and gentle, and kept him in my mouth until the aftershocks had stopped.
He slumped, boneless, and I caught him and pushed to my feet, lifting him into my arms. He giggled and tried to grab his jeans but they were too far away. I reluctantly put him down, holding onto his shoulders for long enough to ensure he was stable.
Once he’d put himself to rights, he slipped his hand into mine and sent me a warm, sated smile. “Time to go?”
“Yeah, sweetheart.”
His gaze dropped to my crotch. “But what about you?”
“That was just for you.” My poor Reid didn’t seem to understand that alphas didn’t have to get off during every sexual encounter, but I supposed that his experience had taught him that his own needs didn’t matter, only what the alpha wanted.
One day, he’d realize that my whole world revolved around him.
“But…” He squirmed and looked at his feet.
I tipped his chin up with two fingers and brushed a kiss over his lips. “If you feel like doing something else later, I’ll take my pleasure then. If not, it can wait.”
He dipped his head but then nodded and squared his shoulders. “Thank you, Z. That was so good.”
“You’re very welcome. Now, let’s go.”
Together, we left our place—I’d invited him to move in when he was ready and he’d done so immediately, which thrilled me more than I could have imagined—and walked the short distance to my parents’ place.
As soon as we arrived, Momma enveloped Reid into one of her comforting mom-hugs, congratulated him on our mating, and assured him that he’d done the right thing by speaking with SSA Rainer about his time in the Havlock Coven.
Milo and Danny each hugged him too. The alphas in the family kept more of a distance. Much as he was healing, Reid was understandably wary of alphas and it would take a while for that instinctual fear to dissipate.
We’d already discussed the possibility of arranging therapy for him with a paranormal-friendly therapist. He was open to it as long as I accompanied him to his first session.
Perhaps it was wrong of me, but I loved being used as his safety net.
We shared a delicious meal—Momma and Milo had outdone themselves in the kitchen—and Reid relaxed progressively as conversation flowed. I wasn’t sure exactly what he’d feared might happen, but hopefully he’d eventually realize that he was part of our family now and that we took care of our own.
At one point—between dinner and dessert—Knox took Reid aside. I tuned into their muted conversation. I didn’t think Knox would say anything to upset Reid but he could be a little rough around the edges.
What I overheard warmed my heart.
“How are you doing?” Knox asked, his voice softer than usual, as if he was doing everything he could to avoid startling Reid.
“I’m really good.”
“Not overwhelmed?” Knox hunched a little. “I know the Blackwoods can be a lot, but they have good intentions and they’re… well, they’re the best family I’ve ever had.”
Across the table, Danny turned slightly toward them, and I suspected that he’d heard the quiet confession as well.
“They’re great.” Reid sighed. “Much better than my blood family. It’s a lot to take in, but I’m glad to have them.”
Knox patted him on the back and they rejoined us in time to share hot apple cobbler—fresh from the oven—and ice cream.
By the time the clan members began to arrive and we moved the party to the backyard, I had a full belly, a full heart, and would love nothing more than to cuddle with my mate and share a nap.
Unfortunately, there was business to attend to.
Everett and Garrick lit a fire in the pit to warm those who weren’t shifters and therefore naturally immune to the cold. Reid gravitated to it and I hovered behind him—but not in the way because others needed the heat more than I did.
When it came time to introduce the new additions, Dad stood on the deck and raised his voice to gain our attention.
“We have five newcomers to welcome to Grizzly Ridge,” he called with enough authority in his voice to quiet even the teenagers who’d been tussling on the edge of the woods. “My eldest son, Zander, has been lucky enough to find his fated mate, the warlock Reid Havlock.”
Reid huffed. “Blackwood,” he muttered. “I don’t want that name anymore.”
Dad’s expression flickered and a grin broke across his face. Reid had spoken quietly but still loud enough to be heard by most shifters. “I stand corrected. Reid Blackwood. We also have four shifter omegas moving into Omega House.”
I looked around, wondering if the rescued omegas were present. As soon as I realized that Garrick was fixated on something, I spotted the sassy fox shifter, Kit. He stood with Milo and Danny, but I couldn’t see any of the others.
“You’ll notice them around town,” Dad continued. “They’ve all suffered an ordeal so please give them grace. Kit is a fox shifter, Olivia and Joy are domestic cat shifters, and Briar is a witch.”
“Stop staring,” I murmured to Garrick, almost inaudibly. “You’ve got to get yourself under control. Acting like an alphahole won’t get you anywhere with an omega who’s been traumatized.”
He motioned discreetly toward Kit. “Does he look traumatized? He’s fucking magnificent.”
“He’s been through a lot.”
Garrick grunted in acknowledgment.
Dad wrapped up his welcome spiel and those who hadn’t shifted started stripping off their clothes to run with the clan in the woods.
Reid turned into my arms and snuggled against me. “You should go.”
“I don’t want to leave you.”
He smiled up at me, his eyes shining brightly in the firelight. “Milo will be with me. We’re going to toast marshmallows.”
My insides turned to mush. “That’s good, sweetheart.” I loved that he was getting more comfortable with my family. “Are you sure?”
He let me go and ushered me away. “Do your run, Z. I’ll be waiting right here.”
Milo rounded the firepit and joined him. “We’ve got this.”
They stood side by side, not touching but supporting each other nonetheless.
I kissed my mate. “I love you.”
His reply echoed in my ears as I stripped off, changed forms, and bounded into the woods.
I loved my mate, and finally, he loved me too.